Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Peak by Roland Smith ~ Lexile 780

This summer is the summer of middle school anchor texts and literature circle books! Our Middle School, in grades 5-7, has selected anchor texts (everybody reads) from different genres. After each anchor text has been completed, students will break out in literature circles (choice reading) to read a book of their choice related to the same genre.I just finished reading Peak by Roland Smith, which is a seventh grade adventure anchor text. This book was fabulous, engaging and told from the point of the Protagonist, Peak Marcello, who found himself in a spot of trouble after he climbed a skyscraper in New York. His choice was to either go live with his Dad, who was a famous mountain climber who led expeditions to Mt. Everest, or spend the next three years in juvenile detention.Excerpt from the back cover:

When fourteen-year-old Peak Marcello's long-lost father presents the opportunity for them to summit Everest together, Peak doesn't even consider saying no-even though he suspects there are a few strings attached. And if he makes it to the top before his birthday, he'll be the youngest person ever to stand above 29,000 feet. It's not a bad turn of events for a guy who's been stuck in New York City with only skyscrapers to illegally scale.

Here, in Peak's own words, is the exhilarating, gut-wrenching story of what happened on that climb to the top of the wold-a climb that changed everything. Welcome to Mount Everest.

Peak learns about life. He learns about friendship. He learns to understand motivations and actions of the people he loves. Each step in this adventure kept me on the seat of my chair wondering if Peak would make it to the top, if his father would be a good guy or not so good, and the life lesson he learns...the very last line of the book...is priceless.

Read this book. Buy it for your child. I recommend this for grades 5 and up.

Top of the world is a well-written informational text with facts about Mount Everest, tools and equipment. This is our companion text for the unit.